Thursday, March 25, 2004

Souta's Adventure Ch. 3: Pet Talks
Kagome heard a knock on her bedroom door. She ignored it at first, but the knock came again. With a sigh, she stood up and unlocked her door. Then she walked back to her bed and collapsed onto it.
Souta opened the door and peered inside. "Uh...Kagome?"
"Hmm?" Kagome asked, the pillow her face was buried in muffling the sound.
"Um," Souta began, walking inside and shutting the door behind him. "Kagome, why...why did you come home crying, last night?"
Kagome rolled over and looked at Souta in mild surprise. She had been sure that everyone was asleep last night, when she had come home. She sighed and rolled onto her back, trying to think up a decent lie. None came to mind.
"Did you and Inuyasha have another fight?" Souta asked. Kagome nodded, feeling an annoying itch behind her eyes. Not an unfamiliar feeling, unfortunately. "Then why do you seem so worried?" asked Souta. "You and Inuyasha have fights all the time, but you always get back together."
"It's not that simple, Souta," said Kagome. "I gave my Shikon shards to Inuyasha. I can't go back and he won't come for me. He has chosen Kikyou."
Souta frowned. Kagome had previously informed Souta of her. He didn't like her from the start. "But Kagome," said Souta, his voice dropping to a whisper. "She's dead. Inuyasha can't possibly love her more than you."
"He does, Souta," said Kagome. "He does."

Miroku stopped beneath the tree and looked up. "Inuyasha," he said. "Can we talk?"
"Go away, Miroku!" growled Inuyasha.
"But Inuyasha, I..."
"Go away!" Inuyasha yelled, dropping to the ground before the monk. "I'm in no mood to hear one of your lectures about how pathetic I am when it comes to relationships!" Miroku opened his mouth to say something, but Inuyasha wasn't done. "There is nothing emotional going on between me and Kikyou! She died for me and I simply plan on paying back that debt. I don't want to hear a speech about how I should go and apologize to Kagome, because I can't! You didn't hear what was said! I have nothing to apologize for! I didn't take the shards from Kagome! I didn't kick her out of this era! She left because she wanted to! So I don't want to hear it! She left because...because..." Inuyasha collapsed to the ground in sorrow, his anger spent. "She left because of me," he whimpered, his ears wilting. "She left because of me and I...I want her to come back!" And then, for the first time since he was a child, Inuyasha cried.
Miroku sat down next to Inuyasha and put his hand on the half-demon's shoulder. "If it means anything, Inuyasha," said Miroku. "I didn't come to give you a lecture. I figured out, with Kaede's help, a bit of what had happened. I know you didn't drive Kagome away."
Inuyasha shook his head. "I could never do that, Miroku. I love her."
Miroku nodded. "I know."
Inuyasha sobbed. "What am i going to do, Miroku? I can't go after her, she'll never understand."
Miroku sighed. "Inuyasha, I think part of Kagome's problem is that you protect Kikyou even after all the things she has done."
"Miroku, Kikyou died because of me."
"That may be so, but kikyou has tried more than once to kill Kagome. Still, you don't have the heart to kill Kikyou, even though she killed you."
"She was tricked by naraku."
"You were also tricked by Naraku. but rather than jump in and try to kill Kikyou, you steal the Shikon no Tama. Not the best choice, but Kikyou didn't even try to understand before she shot you. Still, you hold nothing against her."
"I used to, but I realized the truth."
"Maybe you need to open your eyes further, Inuyasha," said Miroku, standing up. "The Kikyou you once loved is dead, and has been dead since. The Kikyou you now protect is mud and clay."
"Her spirit is still the same," said Inuyasha.
Miroku shook his head and stared up. "The spirit within her body is not Kikyou's - it's Kagome's." Then, without another word, he walked away.
Inuyasha sat on the ground, thinking of what Miroku had said. "Kagome..."
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